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# LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


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ACT 


OF 


INCORPORATION 


OF THE 


MECKLENBURG 


GOLD MINING COMPANY, 


IN THE 


STATE OF NORTH-CAROLINA; 


AND 


REPORT 


OF THE 


SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY, 


%<H k ' 


ON THE 


STATE OF ITS CONCERN; 




WITH 


ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS. 


1 pA 7 


NEW. YORK: 

WILLIAM TOLEFREE, PRINTER, 
NO. 63 , VESEY-STREET. 


SIDCCCXXXHI. 







AN ACT, &c. 


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North 
Carolina , and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same f 
That a Gold Mining Company shall be established in the county 
of Mecklenburg, State of North Carolina, by the name and 
style of “ The Mecklenburg Gold Mining Company,” with a 
capital of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars, in shares of One 
Hundred Dollars each, and thatVincent De Rivafinoli, William 
J. Alexander, James Treat, Anthony Dey, William Renwick, 
Walter Mead, Stephen Sicard, Lewis Veron, Timothy Yeron, 
George W. South, and William Witzel, and all those who now 
are, or shall hereafter become their Associates, are hereby au¬ 
thorised to open Books at Charlotte and such other places as 
they may direct, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions for 
shares in the said Company, having advertised such intention 
in the Farmers’ and Miners’ Journal, and such other papers as 
they may deem necessary for twenty days ; and keep said books 
open for ninety days with power to re-open the same in like 
manner, if the amount of Capital shall not be subscribed. 

Be it further enacted , That the Commissioners under whom 
the books are to be opened for subscription, shall meet at the ex¬ 
piration of ninety days after opening books as above provided, 
and compare their books, and if it shall be found that the sum 
of One Hundred Thousand Dollars shall have been subscribed, 
the Commissioners aforesaid shall forthwith advertise in some 
newspaper, and request a general meeting of the Stockholders, 
at such place and time as they shall appoint, and if Stockhold¬ 
ers representing a majority of all the stock subscribed shall 
attend such meeting either in person or by proxy, the said 
Stockholders may proceed to appoint seven directors, one of 
whom shall be president of the Company, and the said Directors 



4 


shall be appointed for the term of one year, and until their suc¬ 
cessors are appointed. 

Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the direc¬ 
tors within ten days after their appointment as aforesaid, to 
meet and appoint one of their body President, and to execute 
such bonds, as may be required of them by the Stockholders, 
for the faithful performance of their respective duties while in 
office. 

Be it further enacted , That when the sum of One Hundred 
Thousand Dollars shall be subscribed in manner aforesaid, the 
subscribers, their successors, and assigns shall be and they are 
hereby declared to be, incorporated into a company by the name 
and style of the “ Mecklenburg Gold Mining Company,” and 
by that name may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, 
before any Court or Justice of the Peace, and shall so con¬ 
tinue for the term of twenty-five years, from the ratification of 
this act, and shall be capable in law, to have, purchase, receive, 
possess, enjoy, and retain to them and their successors, lands, 
rents, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels, and effects of 
whatsoever kind nature or quality, and the same to sell, grant, de¬ 
mise, alien, or dispose of, and shall possess all the rights and privi¬ 
leges of a corporation or body politic in law, and also may make, 
have, and use a common seal, and the same to break, alter, and re¬ 
new at their pleasure, and may make all such bye-laws, rules and 
regulations not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of 
the State, as shall be necessary for the well-ordering and con¬ 
ducting the affairs of the company. 

Be it further enacted , That if the whole of the capital stock 
shall not be subscribed within the first ninety days, and the sum 
of One Hundred Thousand Dollars shall have been subscribed, 
and the company organised, as before provided in that case, it 
shall be lawful for the Stockholders to re-open the books and 
receive subscriptions for the balance of their Capital Stock. 

And he it further enacted, That if more than the Capital 
stock shall have been subscribed for within the ninety days, 
then it shall be the dutv of the Commissioners to reduce the 
subscriptions in fair and equal proportions, reserving to each 
subscriber at least one share, and if the stockholders shall re¬ 
open the books, and more than the capital stock shall be sub¬ 
scribed, then the stockholders shall reduce the subscriptions to 
the capital stock in the manner above stated. 

Be it further enacted, That the stockholders of said Compa* 
ny shall meet once in each and every year, at some convenient 
place in the county of Mecklenburgh, either in person or by 


5 


proxy, and at such general meeting, if a majority of the stock 
subscribed be represented, the said stockholders may proceed to 
elect their officers, fix their salaries, take bonds from* the officers 
for the faithful performance of their duties in office ; make all 
necessary bye-laws, rules and regulations, for the government 
of said company, and shall have power to do all other acts ne¬ 
cessary to be clone to carry into effect the object of this act, 
and the stockholders in general meeting shall be entitled to vote 
according to the following scale (to wit,) each stockholder shall 
be entitled to one vote for each share he may hold, as high as 
three shares, and one vote for every three shares as high as 
thirty shares, and one vote for every five shares above thirty 
shares, by him or her held at the time of such general meeting. 

Be it further enacted , That stockholders in said Company 
who together own or represent one-third of the stock subscribed 
may on any emergency, call a meeting and shall have power at 
such meeting to remove any officer of the Company from office, 
for misconduct or other sufficient cause, and to make such rules 
and regulations as may be necessary for the government of the 
company, until the next annual meeting of the stockholders. 

Be it further enacted , That the said Corporation are to ap¬ 
ply their capital to mining only, and all its powers and privile¬ 
ges are granted, and to be exercised for the purpose of mining, and 
the said corporation is hereby declared incapable in law to carry 
on any operation of Banking, or to direct its funds to any other 
purpose than mining. 

Be it further enacted , That the full amount of every sub¬ 
scription, shall be paid in at the time of subscribing, or shall be 
secured by bond or note of the subscriber, signed by himself 
and two good securities, neither of whom shall be a corporator, 
and if a surety shall afterwards become a corporator, the Presi¬ 
dent and Directors shall require another security in his place, 
and in case such requisition be not complied with, the President 
and Directors shall forthwith collect the money due on said 
bond or note ; the money secured by said bond or note, shall bear 
interest from the date, but shall be paid into the treasury of the 
corporation in such sums and at such times as the President and 
Directors shall,by resolution,ordain and require. 

Be it further enacted , That no subscription shall be less than 
one share, and in case any subscriber shall fail to pay in the 
amount of his subscription, or to give his bond with two sure¬ 
ties as aforesaid, as by this act provided; that the said subscriber 
and any or every Director conniving at, or assenting to such 
failure, shall be liable to any creditor of the company for the 


6 


full amount of such subscription, to be recovered from such sub¬ 
scriber and Director or Directors, their Executors or Adminis¬ 
trators jointly and severally, by an action on the case. 

Be it further enacted , That the Corporation may make con¬ 
tracts, or become bound by any instrument or security or agree¬ 
ment in writing, signed by the President, or by any person duly 
authorised by him, or by the President and Directors ; but the 
legal estate, in the lands, tenements, and hereditaments aliened by 
the Corporation shall pass to the purchaser only by deed under 
the Corporation seal. 

Be it further enacted , That any legal process against the 
corporation may be served on the President, and in case he be 
not in the state, or evades service, service of the same on any 
Director, and in case there be no Director in the state, the ser¬ 
vice on any stockholder shall be sufficient. 

Be it further enacted r , That it shall be the duty of the said 
Corporation to keep a full and fair record of all their procee¬ 
dings in books procured for that purpose, and shall be bound to 
produce said records in any court of justice in this state, when 
required so to do by the court. It shall be the duty of the said 
corporation, to preserve all bonds or notes given for stock in said 
Company, and to enter such payments, as shall from time to 
time be made on such bonds, until they are fully discharged. 

Be it further enacted.\ That it shall be the duty of the said 
corporation at the first court of Pleas and quarter sessions to 
be held for Mecklenburg, after the organization of said com¬ 
pany, and annually thereafter to present to the said Court a 
full and fair statement of the full amount of stock subscribed, 
the amount which has been paid in cash, and the amount for 
which the President and Directors hold the bond of the sub¬ 
scribers or stockholders, and also the amount of other debts 
due to the Corporation, and the name and places of residence 
of the several stockholders. 

Be it further enacted , That the President and Directors 
shall prescribe the manner in which stock shall be conveyed 
or transferred from one stockholder to another or to any other 
person, and that the stock shall be deemed and held as personal 
property and go in succession to executors and administrators. 

Be it further enacted , That all the property of the afore¬ 
said Corporation of whatever kind or nature, whether lands, 
negroes, machinery, stock, goods, bonds, or other effects shall 
be liable to the satisfaction of the debts of the corporation, 


7 


/ 

and shall be subject to be levied on by execution, attachment, 
or other legal process, and sold. 

Be it further enacted , That this act shall be in force from 
and after the ratification thereof. 


To the President and Directors of the Mecklenburg Gold- 

Mining Company , 

New-York, July 10th, 1833. 

Gentlemen, 

In consequence of the repeated and earnest solicitations of 
J. Humphrey Bissell, Esq., the Manager of the Mecklenburg 
Gold-mining Company at Charlotte, in North Carolina, I visited 
the establishment in June, 1833. Before I left home I supposed 
myself incapable of investigating the subject; and intended only 
to remain a very short time—but having a l&rge property at 
stake, and by the encouragement received from Mr. Bissell, I 
was induced to enter into an investigation of the concerns, at 
least, so far as I was capable. I feel happy in saying that 
I now have the pleasure of submitting to you the result of 
my labours ; and if on examination you can feel as I do on the 
subject, and the necessary measures be adopted with success I 
shall not despond of making our establishment equal to any other 
in the United States, now known, for permanent benefit , if not in 
the high price of the stock to be sold in the market, yet in its re¬ 
venue, producing a regular income to an extent that will warrant 
a respectable advance on the cost or par value of the shares. 

The bad management of the Chevalier de Rivafinoli regard¬ 
ing that concern up to the time when he was forcibly dispos¬ 
sessed by the Directors, in the Autumn of 1832, is not unknown 
to you, and I believe cannot be concealed from the public, 

I have now the satisfaction to say, that it is under the man¬ 
agement and direction of J. Humphrey Bissell Esq., who has 
personally a large interest at stake in the success of the concern, 
and if integrity, unremitting industry, economy, and a knowledge 
of the business, and true interests of the Company can give us 
wealth we shall at least deserve it if we do not obtain it. I have 
witnessed, to my entire satisfaction, these qualifications in Mr. 
Bissell, and know no man to whom I would sooner confide my in¬ 
terests in that concern than to him. I shall now proceed to a de¬ 
tailed statement of our concerns. 



8 


The Chevalier cle Rivafinoli in the month of August, 1830, 
procured from J. H. Bissell, S, G. Barker, and C. G. Memmin- 
ger leases for 35 years of certain mills and mines in Mecklen¬ 
burg county, North Carolina; he also procured one or more 
leases of other mines from other persons all of which have been 
transferred to the Mecklenburg Gold Mining Company. The 
Company are incorporated by an Act of the Legislature of the 
State of North Carolina, under which the Company went into 
operation, in June, 1832. In December, 1832, the Company 
purchased all the estate and interest of Samuel G. Barker, in 
fee simple, in the mills and mines in which he had any interest 
in North Carolina; and the Company now have an undivided 
interest in the following real estate, as well as interest under the 
leases, namely; 

Acres. Roods. 


The one half part of St. Catharine’s Mills and Land, 

about 550 

' one half of the Charlotte mine and land, 119 

one half of O’Farrell’s mine and land, 110 

one third of Felt and Walkin’s mine and land, 110 
one third of Banes’ mine and land, and which inclu¬ 
des the benefit of a lease, 8 16 

one third of Maxwell’s mine, and also 1-4 of an 

acre adjoining 31 

one third of Baker’s mine also adjoining including 

Campbell’s also 7 1-2 

one third of Benton’s mine about 200 

one third of Cooper and Hurtchingson’s mines 46 1-2 

one third of M. Clures mine 20 


one third of Griffiths’ mine, about 1 mile fromCapp’s 3 1-2 
The whole of M. Clure’s mine, which Mr. Bissell has 
recently puachased, the title to which is 
in the name of A. Dey and which I hold 
for the benefit of the Company if they 
choose to take it and pay me 10 


Acres 1156. 

The Company are also the owners of the unexpired lease of 
the celebrated Capp’s mine, which had, I am credibly informed, 
yielded upwards of $200,000 value, in gold, before it was pur¬ 
chased by this Company. 

The whole of these mines I visited, save one ; most of them 
have merely been opened and tested partially. I visited many 
other mines within the range of seven miles of St. Catharine’s 



n 


mills, talked with many of the owners and found an universal dis¬ 
position, on the part of the owners, either to sell or lease their 
mines to our Company, believing that the Company were better 
able to conduct them than the owners could. Some of these 
Mines are known to be very valuable, and have produced large 
quantities of gold. They have been worked on a small scale, 
principally with slaves, and until they come to water when the 
owners wanting skill or capital, and perhaps both, found they could 
not work them farther to advantage. The peculiar advantages 
which our Company possess as relates to milling powers not 
only by steam, but especially by water, renders it almost certain 
that sooner or later all the mines within seven miles of Charlotte, 
will come under the control of our Company in one shape or 
another, so that it may be said we have an inexhaustable fund 
from whence to draw our ores. 

After obtaining all the knowledge on the subject which seve¬ 
ral days rigid attention to the business enabled me, I considered it 
advisable to obtain the practical results of the establishment that 
I might submit the same to the Directors, and through them if 
they considered it advisable to the Stockholders for their infor¬ 
mation, that they might understand more satisfactorily the value 
of their property. 

Hence you will find that I have directed my questions, not 
only to the chief manager but to the sub-managers, and super¬ 
intendent miner, and have gleaned from them all the informa¬ 
tion that my limited knowledge, hastily acquired, would enable 
me. I refer you to the annexed queries and answers as affording, 
in my opinion, a developement not of mere theories, but facts 
and opinions, formed upon results, which, on careful examination, 
I think will convince any one, that we have a very valuable con¬ 
cern. 

From the information I received at Charlotte and from what 
fell under my own observation, I made the following summary 
under the immediate inspection of the chief manager, namely: 


2 


10 


Bu»&. 

The steam mill—drives at present 12 Arastres, that 
revolve from 7 to 9 times in a minute, and each Aras- 
tras will grind now, on the average, 15 bushels~of 
ore per day—in all say, 180 

N. B. By changing the two driving wheels, which 
will be a small expense, the present Arastres will 
make from 13 to 15 revolutions more in a minute than 
at present, by which each Arastre will grind say 5 bush, 
in addition per day, which will make in addition the difi 
ference in all, GO bushels per day—This, I am im 
formed, is not conjecture, as the Mallard Creek mills 
which revolve from 13 to 15 times in a minute, each 
grind easily 20 bushels per day, and in better order. 

The Water power at St. Catharines’ Mills, drives 2 

Arastres, that mill 30 bushels of soft ores per day, 30 

Drives 12 stamp heads in water with the bowls for 
washing (called Tyrolese Mills) making 4 sets, each 
set pulverizing 25 bushels and washing same, 100 

Drives 12 dry stamp-heads at present. It is intended 
to change these to stamp in water, and make them 
in connection with bowls and wheels already complet¬ 
ed into Tyrolese mills, which it is expected will be 
done by the first of August, 1833, say as above. 100 

The head manager informed me that these dry- 
stamps would do 100 bushels of soft ores per day, and 
of hard ores from 75 to 80 bushels per day; he also 
observed that the quantity would differ according to 
the quality of the ores, whether hard or soft, and 
would be from 375 to 475 bushels per diem. 

Mallard Creek Mills—The Dam belonging to these 
mills was broken, in April, 1833, with the freshets 
which prevailed so generally throughout North Car¬ 
olina, they were in the use and occupation of our 
concern at the time. The Capp’s Company offer at 
the present time to put these mills in order again 
for a reasonable compensation to be paid when our 
Company are in successful operation. 

These mills can now do GO bushels of ore per day, 
and may in one week be so improved as to do 75 
bushels per day. 75 


485 



11 


485 

Suppose you have the 'poor quality of ore that will 

yield only 50 cents to the bushel, 50 


8242 50 

And you estimate 26 working days to the month, 26 


1455 00 
4850 00 


86305 00 

And then deduct the expenses according to the ac¬ 
counts furnished me, and which I now exhibit to the 
Board—Thus, 

The expense of milling per month, at St. Catharines is 
from 8750 to 8800 8800 

Mallardcreek milling 60 


860 

The mining establishments estimated will range 

lrom 82000 to 82500 per month, say 2440 3300 00 


83005,00 


That will yield say, 83000 per month and at that rate 836,000 
per annum nett, and will yield on a capital of 8230,000 more 
than 15 per cent per annum. 

You will observe this calculation is made on poor ore, worth 
only 50 cts. to the bushel. The Superintendent Miner in his 
report annexed, says that the poorest quality of ores is not more 
than 20 grains, equal to about 80 cents per bushel. When Ri- 
vafinoli had the direction it was a common thing for him to grind 
ore that yielded from 1 to 2 dwt. per bushels, and often more; now 
every grain that the ore yields beyond 50 cents, per bushel, is clear 
profit, and the dividend therefore maybe increased according to 
circumstances. 

In order to illustrate this more fully, I may add ,that if the ore 
yields 1 dwt. to the bushel, the net profits to be divided, will 
be 88,175 per month, and 898,100 per annum ; and on calcula¬ 
tion it will be found that if the ore should yield 2 dwt. to the 
bushel, it would nearly repay in one year the whole capital 
of 8250,000, which is required at the present time, of which 
sum only 850,000, requires to be taken. 

The above statement is predicated upon works already erected 









12 


and in operation, and upon works so far completed, that a very 
few weeks can bring the whole into operation. There are 
moreover preparations made, and at a very small comparative 
expense, by which the works may be extended so as to drive 72 
additional wet stamps, and Tyrolese mills by water, so that we 
can grind from 1500 to 2000 bushels of ore per day under the 
same superintendance we now have there. 

In my opinion it is advisable that the Directors should open a 
new subscription to the stock of the Company, for 850,000, to 
be taken up among the stockholders, if they wish any more or 
from any other quarter, and my reasons for it, are these :— 
Since the discharge of Ch. Rivafinoli, the Company 
have purchased the Estate in fee from S. G. Barker, 


for 

Rivafinoli had run the Company in debt to a 
large amount, and it became necessary to borrow 
monies for the relief of the Company. A. Dey, 
loaned the Company 
Other individuals loaned to the extent of 

With these two last sums it was believed the 
Company could get along, but on further develope- 
ment, it appeared the concern was committed by 
Rivafinoli to a much larger amount. 

In addition thereto the mill dam in April was 
carried away; other expenses were incurred in 
putting up the Tyrolese mills, and extending the 
works; so that it may fairly be considered we owe, 
in Charlotte, an amount not far short of 


There is due to the former lessors of Capp’s 
mine, for the unpaid balance of purchase of their 
property 

J. Bissells’ draft on A. Dey, due August, 

Total debts of the Company, ! 

Surplus, ....... 


820,000 00 


5,000 

3,131 


00 

00 


12,000 

00 

40,131 

00 

2,000 

00 

1,000 

00 

43,131 

00 

6,869 

00 

850,000 

00 


xn auuiuvu Lin- umvum UCUW VVC UUglll I ixlStJ at lCUSl me 

further sum of 86869; as a surplus fund for the present, to meet 
contingencies ; to perfect the works, but especially that we might 







13 


have the means of purchasing gold and saving a very large pre¬ 
mium. This sum will suffice for the above mentioned contingen¬ 
cies in as much as the second and third payments on the purchase 
of Barker’s share are payable at one and two years, from 1st 
January, 1834, but I would prefer that we should be out of debt. 

On every dwt. of gold we now make, we are losing from 4 to 
6 per cent, for want of funds—The gold we make goes into the 
hands of our banker at Charlotte, at the price of gold there, to 
secure advances already made and making weekly by him ; and 
this cannot be taken from him until he is entirely paid off. And 
if we had surplus funds to the extent of $10,000, we might turn 
it every 60 days in the purchase of gold, at market price there, 
and save the rate of exchange here. 

I respectfully call the attention of the Directors to the conside¬ 
ration of the suggestions made in the annexed reports, as soon 
as it shall be ascertained what course the Company will pursue. 

All which is respectfully submitted by 
ANTHONY DEY, 

27 Nassau-st., New- York. 


No. 1 . — Letter, dated 22 d Jane , 1833, from Anthony Dey to 

Titus L. Bissell, the Sub-Manager at St. Catharine’s Mills, 

and his Answer thereto, dated 2 6th June, 1833. 

Charlotte, N. Carolina, 22 d June, 1833. 

It is requested of Titus L. Bijssell to make a report on the 
state of St. Catherine’s Mill. 

In that report I wish you to state how long you have been 
attached to the establishment, and what has been your duties ? 
What number of Mills are employed, and how driven, whether 
by steam or water. 

How many bushels of ore can be milled in a day, at the pre¬ 
sent time ? Are preparations making for an increased number of 
mills, to be driven by water or steam, and how many ? What im¬ 
provements and enlargements are contemplated, and at what 
probable expense ? 

What is the difference in expense of milling 300 bushels of 
ore by steam or by water ? Suppose you had a sufficient sup¬ 
ply of ore, worth 50 cents per bushel, what would be the 
monthly profits ? State, particularly, how the expenses arise, 
and to what they would amount, as the result of your expe- 



14 


rience, before the Chevalier Rivafinoli went into possession, 
during his administration, and since his dismissal. 

Will thank you to state what would be the monthly profits 
on ores milled, that would yield 1 dwt. per bushel, supposing 
each set, say 12 stampers attached to the Tyrolese Mills, to 
mill 100 bushels of ore per day. 

Have you, hitherto, had a full supply of ore ; and what, as 
far as you know, or from information received, do you believe 
is the prospect of a supply of ore in future ? 

I will thank you to make any suggestions in relation to the 
concern, and to its management, that may tend, in your opinion, 
to the benefit of the stockholders: and lastly , I wish, so far as 
it is possible, you would make numerical statements and esti¬ 
mates, fitting them to the variations of the modes of working by 
steam and water, and let such estimates be based on actual or 
practical results, which have come under your own observation. 

1 am, sir, very respectfully, yours, 

ANTHONY DEY. 


St. Catharine’s Mills, June 26th , 1833. 

To A. Dey, Esq. 

Dear Sir —In reply to your favour of the 24th. I came in 
the service of Bissell and Barker, in April 1829, previous to any 
Gold Mill on the place. During their time it was my business 
to keep their accounts, pay both for this place and Charlotte 
Mine, keep account of lost time, receive, still, and melt the 
gold, &c.; and part of the time I was a practical miller, tend¬ 
ing my regular watch, for the purpose of becoming better ac¬ 
quainted with the ores, and doing my other duties besides. 

Since the Chevalier took possession, in November, 1830, I 
have filled the same situation, with the exception of the time, 
Mr. W oelner was here, who kept the milling books and saw to 
the Mills, and melted the gold. 

There are now 12 arastre mills in full operation, which go by 
steam; 12 dry stamps, by water; 2 wash mills, by water; 
and a new saw-mill, by water. 

The Gold Mills, by steam, are able to consume 12 bushels of 
hard, and 15 bushels soft ores, each mill, every 24 hours ; 168 
bushels per day, average ; or 4,368 bushels per month, average. 

In addition to these there are the old arastre mills, all ready 
and only waiting for the string fore lay, which was carried away 


15 


\ 

by the flood, and will be shortly ready, which are able to con¬ 
sume 24 bushels each day, of 24 hours, or 624 bushels per 

month. 

The new wet stamps and Tyrolean Mills start to-morrow : 
what they will consume is impossible for me to say ; but, taking 
the highest estimate I can get from those used to working them 
for tin ores, in Cornwall, it will be 75 to 100 bushels for 12 
stamp heads, each 24 hours, or 2,600 bushels per month. 

That will make the consumption, by Engine, 4,368 

by Old Mill, 624 
Tyrolean, 2,600 

7,592 Bush. 

Or, in round numbers, 7,600 bushels per month. 

I should think we could consume more instead of less ; in¬ 
deed, had we a full supply of ores, I should not hesitate to say 
we could consume 8,000 bushels per month. The improve¬ 
ments contemplated by the agent are shortly to stop the engine, 
and add dry stamps so as to make that establishment independ¬ 
ent of the Water Mills. 

To put in the place of the dry stamps 12 wet stamps, and 
Tyrolean bowls ; then, if ores are abundant, to add still 12 more 
stamps and bowls to the big wheel, on the opposite side of the 
dry stamps. 

In estimating of milling cost, we have always taken the ave¬ 
rage monthly expenses, and divided by the number of bushels 
we could mill. So in July, 1831, soon after the engine started, 
when we could consume the same quantity of ore we do now 
(independent of the Tyrolean Mills,) if my memory serves me, 
it cost over 50 cents a bushel; in July, 1832, Mr. Woelner and 
myself made a calculation, and took a good deal of pains with 
it, it then cost 35 cents. 

Now, taking the average, say $850 per month, and say 
we consume 4,992 by engine, and old arastres, this is about 17 
cents per bushel, in addition to the continual erection of build¬ 
ings and machinery, and keeping what there are in repair. 

I think you can run the whole establishment, including Ty¬ 
rolean mills, quicksilver, &c. for $850, in that case, allow¬ 
ing the Tyrolean mills to consume 100 bushels per day, is the 
average of not quite 11 cents per bushel upon all milled by en¬ 
gine, arastres, dry stamps, and Tyrolean mills. 

If you estimate, for Tyrolean mills, independent of the rest 
of the establishment, and say it consumes 100 bushels per day, 
it cannot cost over 5 cents ; for 5 dollars per day must be sufli- 



16 


cient for three hands, quicksilver, tallow, oil, and wear and 
tear. 

The engine (including dry stamps and wash niill), the wood, 
tallow, quicksilver, oil, wear and tear, cost about 24 dollars 
per day, or about 15 cents per bushel. 

But, by this calculation, we have no new works going up, 
only mechanics enough just to keep all in order. 

As regards the monthly profits, it is impossible for me to give 
you an estimate (whether the ores yielded 6 grains or 26 grains), 
as I have nothing on which to found. There is no book-keeper 
for the general concern. I do not know at all the expenses of 
the mines, and to get at such an estimate accurately, it would 
be necessary to find out the average expense of the mines, and 
the average quantity of ores they could raise. 

The expense of hauling from Capp’s, O’Farrel’s, and Nolan’s, 
cost about 7 cents per bushel. 

The hauling from Oliver’s,and from Maxwell’s, about 10 cents. 
From Charlotte, and from Jimmison and lludisell, about 3 cents, 
From Cooper and Hutchinson, 4 cents. 

By referring to a copy of the expense book which you have 
you will see the expenses arise from hire of hands, and purchase 
of materials and provisions. I am unable to give you the current 
expenses of either mines or mills, by the month, previous to 1st 
November, 1830, as Bissell and Barker’s purchases of lands 
and negroes, erection of buildings, expense of mines and mills, 
all went together; they kept a general account for every thing. 

With the 4 Chilian Mills, which ran 7 days in the week, we 
used to consume about 3,000 bushels, on an average, per month, 
and at a very trifling expense, as the wash mills were attended 
by negro women, and two of the Chilian mills ; there was but 
one white man attached to the milling. The milling could not 
cost 10 cents a bushel, when taken separate from the general 
concern. 

The expenses during the Chevalier’s time I am just as ignorant 
of. There are no books here to shew what they were. 

Nor could I give you a correct monthly account of the ex¬ 
penses of this place during his time, as the officers were always 
paid from the general office ; the quicksilver was almost or al¬ 
ways purchased by that office, and frequently the corn and 
bacon. 

I could give you an exact account of all the moneys which 
passed through my hands, in February, 1831. I paid out for 
expenses on this place 2,305 dollars; in March, 2,600 dollars ; 
but this was not near the true expense of this place. 


vt 


We have never had what I should call a full supply of ores 
since November, 1830. It is true we have had a temporary 
supply frequently, but no stock to last a length of time. 

The best stock, and the best ores we ever had, were pro¬ 
duced from Charlotte and Rudisell Mines, from March to July, 
1832 ; during that time the gold turned out more per bushel, and 
we made more gold during that time, than ever before or since 
in the same space, and the mills Went more regular. 

As to future supplies of ores, you are much better informed 
than I am. I seldom go to the mines, and never went below at 
Capp’s ; and if I did should know nothing about it except what 
was told me. Whenever I ask any one from Capp’s Mine about 
ore, they always say—plenty, plenty. 

As you request my suggestions of any alterations which may 
be of benefit to the Company. Expecting shortly to leave, and 
not to see the suggestions go into effect, I can have no interest 
except what appears to me to be for the good of the Company ; 
besides, these are merely my private opinions, and there are 
other and wiser heads than mine, who will not do them if not for 
the best. 

I would suggest the necessity of a book-keeper for the ge¬ 
neral concern, whose duty it should be to keep a regular set of 
books, classifying and assorting all the different expenses of each 
establishment, and keeping the expenses of each place distinct; 
to keep cash-book ; raise the needful; and upon the presentation 
of each officer’s account of expenses, on the 1st of every month, 
give them the money : or, make the book-keeper paymaster for 
the whole concern, and have but one pay day each month; to 
render a consolidated account, with the returns of the gold, &c, 
every month, to the president of this company. The book¬ 
keeper’s duty should be attached to some other duty, as it will 
not take his time. 

I would put six negroes immediately into the timber land pur¬ 
chased by the Chevalier, and which is obliged to be cleared by 
December, or leave what is not cut off; let these hands cut fire¬ 
wood, bracing timber, ranging timber, saw-mill logs, house 
logs, and rails timber, and let it all be hauled off before De¬ 


cember. 

My opinion is decided, that these six hands, beginning 1st 
July, are able to cut all the fire-wood, rails, timber, saw-logs, 
&c. that we shall want for a year ; they will be able to clear 
the land by December. They will then be able, after Decem¬ 
ber, to fence up lands with the rails they have cut; and in 
spring go to planting; these same six hands will be able to take 

3 


18 


care of 150 acres of all kinds ; they will make hay, corn, and 
oats, abundance for this place—and, with a good season, 
much more than we can use; besides the great advantage of 
placing us beyond the combination of the country people, which 
is sometimes a great evil. 

There is 30 acres of excellent meadow land, if it was fenced. 

I would not alter any mill before 1st of August. 

What few mill-wrights we have, have more than they can 
do to finish off the works begun, by 1st August: the dam ; the 
string fore bays; shingling the carpenter’s shop (which is in¬ 
juring, as it now stands); weather-boarding the ends of the Ty¬ 
rolean mills, and keeping the mills all in good repair, will be as 
much as they can do till the 1st August. By that time we shall 
be able to pronounce with certainty what the Tyrolean mills 
will do, which as yet we cannot, having nothing but books, and 
hearsay to go by. 

After 1st August, if the Tyrolean mills answer all that is 
said of them, then turn the mill-wrights immediately to putting 
up 12 wet stamps, and Tyrolean bowls, where the dry stamps 
now are. Stop the engine, which will stop the wash-mill, and 
very much reduce the milling expenses. 

I would mention the great convenience, advantage, and pro¬ 
fits of a grist mill, a cheap one, merely for grinding corn. I 
would recommend it to be put up in the old gold mill, after the 
other works are done (say the projected new wet stamps) ; this 
will save a man, horse and cart, one day each week, from 
each place, to go to mill; a large quantity of corn, which now 
goes for toll; and would be a source of profit from the toll we 
should get for grinding from the country. It would require 
but one negro to attend it. 

The expense would be trifling, as the water wheel is already 
up ; the stones were cut and paid for by Bissell and Barker, and 
will cost only the hauling about ten miles, The spindle, 
bushes, hopper, &c. from the old mill are all saved, in excellent 
order, and ready ; and perhaps much of the gearing of the old 
mill could be used. 

I should not think it could cost $300, even if it was done by 
contract; but, as it is proposed, it would be done by our mill¬ 
wrights, whenever they had spare time from more important 
business, and the monthly expenses would not be increased. 

The corn and meal would be carried to the different mines by 
the return ore waggons, and would cost nothing. 

I would again urge what I have often before, the necessity of 


19 


insuring the engine buildings, the old mill-house and dry stamp¬ 
ing mill, and the new building with Tyrolean Mills, against fire. 

It would be well for the Board to fix upon some merchant in 
New-York for an agent, to purchase what few things we want 
on commission. Some one not in a heavy business, who would 
take pains, and would have time to attend to our orders. 

It there is no one who has a prior claim on the Company, I 
would recommend Mr. P. Pettibone, who used to keep an 
Agency Office, about 95 Maiden-lane, up stairs. He is a poor, 
honest, industrious young man, (a Yankee,) who is extremely 
well calculated to do the business, and I know would do it 
quick, well and honest. 

Your obedient servant, 

T. L. BISSELL. 


No. 2.— The following Questions were submitted by A. Dey, in 
the month of June , 1833, to A. Raw and Edward H. Bissell , 
to answer respecting the Mining Establishment in Mecklen¬ 
burg County , North Carolina , belonging to “ The Mecklen¬ 
burg Gold Mining Company.” 

1. What is your age, profession, and how long have you 
been engaged in mining ? 

2. How long have you been engaged in the mines in Meck¬ 
lenburg County ? And at what particular mine are you now 
employed, under the management of J. Humphrey Bissell, Esq. 
the chief manager for the Company ? 

3. State what are your views in relation to the ore coming 
from the respective Shafts at Capp’s Mine ; and what the ores 
will yield; and particularly, in what state is the Jane vein, at 
the lowest level—and what are your views as to its extent ? How 
are the ores as to quality, and expense of obtaining ? 

4. Have you worked at the Charlotte Mine : what was the 
quality of its ores : what state is it in at the present time : what, 
in your opinion is best to be done with it ? Can you form any 
estimate of the probable expense of sinking the shaft at the 
Charlotte mine, per foot; and at what point do you suppose it 
will intersect the veins Irom the other shafts. If the main shaft 
is sunk to any particular depth that you may name, will the 
veins, in your opinion, yield such a quantity of ore that it will 
justify the expense ? State your views at large in relation to 
the matters enquired about, and any other views you may have. 

5 . State your views in relation to the Rudisell mine. If the 



20 


main shaft is sunk at Charlotte Mine, will it drain the Rudiscll 
Mine? What are the indications at Rudisell Mine? Does 
appearances justify further working at that mine, for present 
profit ; what was the quality of its ores, and what did they yield 
per bushel ? 

6. What is your opinion of Maxwell’s mine ? 

7. State any other matter or thing, or any opinion you may 
entertain of the present management of the concern, and how it 
can be improved or benefitted. If the Company are disposed to 
confine the works at Capp’s mine to such points as would be 
soonest profitable, what, in your opinion, would be the best 
plan of operation ? 


Answer of Edward H. Bis sell. 



To Anthony Bey , Esq. Secretary of the Mecklenburg Gold 

Alining Company, 


Sir, 


Agreeable to your request, I take pleasure in offering a few 
remarks upon the present state of the mines now in the possess 
sion of your Company, not giving them as the opinion of a 
miner , but as the best of my judgment, founded upon what 
little knowledge I have obtained in mining during a residence 
of nearly six years at the mines and mills now worked by the 
company, as clerk and superintendent. 

Of Charlotte Aline —in its present state, I know very little, 
except what I have heard from the miners, as it is sometime 
since I was engaged there. They say that the vein in the Ca¬ 
tharine Shaft was left good—that in Marie Louisa not so much 
so. Certainly, if the mine is to be proved, it will be necessary 
to carry down the Engine Shaft, as the machinery, See. would 
be valuable at another place, and without sinking the shaft it 
would be wrong to remove it, as it would leave the mine im¬ 
proved, and in case of the mines being good, every thing is in 
excellent order for carrying on the work. The cost of sinking 
the shaft, say for 50 feet, might be done, taking the risk, I should 
think, for $12 per foot, though the present hardness of the shaft 
would be an objection to the miners taking it by contract, as it is 
probable it would soon become softer, and they would ask a price 
upon the supposition of its being hard all the way down. I do 
not think the mining part would cost much over that sum, as it 
could be done by day’s labour, if no other way; or by giving 



21 


a contract for a short distance, at a higher, and afterwards at 
a lower rate. Should Charlotte mine prove good, it has many 
advantages over most of the other mines, and which would con¬ 
fine the expenses to nearly the mining part, as the buildings 
and machinery are sufficient to work to a large extent, and its 
proximity to the mills is a very important article in its favour. 
I would certainly recommend the mine to be properly proved 
within the coming year, and then if not good abandon it, and 
remove the machinery. The ores are good, yielding generally 
about a dwt. per bushel, and the labour of assorting the ores is 
so small as to require but one hand for that purpose. 

Rudisell Mine —I have never had anything to do with. During 
the time it was worked I was at the mills. The ores were 
good, giving from one to two dwts. per bushel, with very little 
assorting. Every part of the vein above the lowest work is 
said to be nearly all taken out, and the vein in the bottom to be 
small and poor. I do not think any plan can be devised to ren¬ 
der this mine of profit. The sinking of the engine shaft at 
Charlotte mine will not drain the Rudisell mine of water: were 
that the case it might be proved some lower, but I do not think 
it is possible so to do; and to put a large engine up at such a 
place would be running a desperate risk. 

Maxwell’s Mine —I consider one of the most promising in the 
county. The vein is large from 2 to 8 feet wide, and the ore 
I think will give 3-4 dwt. per bushel, average. It is finely 
situated for drainage by an adit, and the only thing against it 
is the distance from the mills, but that will be more than ba¬ 
lanced by the benefit of working it without machinery, by its 
being free of rent, and by its affording a supply of ores from 
near the surface, either of which is sufficient to render the 
working of the mine advisable. The clavo is, long, and being 
entirely new, and thereby affording an opportunity to be pro¬ 
perly and advantageously worked, I should be loth to exchange 
the prospect of immediate profit for that of most mines which I 
have seen. 

McClure’s Mine , near Capp’s, is so new, and so entirely un¬ 
proved, that of it little can be said. There are two veins on the 
place, besides the one already opened, which is small, and not 
worth over 1-2 dwt. per bushel; but it is my belief that the 
veins not opened will be found better than that which is being 
worked. It would be well to continue the mine until it is seen 
how it will do, as the working of it is not expensive, and the 
ores will nearly pay for the labour. 

Capp’s Mine , the old vein , is in a good state for working, as 


22 


the galleries of communication have been cut, which saved the 
labor of some hands, which at the commencement of our work¬ 
ing the vein we were obliged to employ rather disadvanta- 
geouslv, on account of the manner in which it had been previ¬ 
ously worked. Since that work has been finished the vein has 
been very good until within the last week, since when it has 
become very poor, and unpromising. Some very fine ores 
have been taken out from the vein the last few weeks, but the 
hardness of the vein, and of the rocks which surround it, render 
it a slow and difficult, as well as an unprofitable work. The 
vein is very uncertain, all of the ore lying in pockets, which are 
good for a few days only, no depend ance can be put upon, nor 
calculation made of a spot, however fine it may, at first cutting, 
appear. Were it an open vein the changes of the size of the 
vein, and the quantities of the ore would not be of so much im¬ 
portance, as in a vein such as this, requiring great labour, and 
constant blasting, to go a small distance. The engine shaft has 
been sunk since we are here 20 feet, making the whole depth 115 
feet. In sinking the shaft two stripes of vein were cut, neither 
of which were of any value. There is a possibility of the main 
vein, or largest stripe of the vein, not having been cut, but yet 
remaining in the bottom of the shaft. Most of the ore from that 
part of mine has been taken out to the depth of one hundred feet. 

The Jane Vein — I can safely say is an excellent and extremely 
promising one in its present appearance. It has been worked 
to the depth of 50 feet and the vein in the bottom of the level is 
larger and better than above. The whole distance of the clavo, 
the vein, unlike the old one is more uniformly good and perma¬ 
nent, and is from one to three feet in size. It is an open vein, 
and very easily worked, never as yet requiring a blast. The 
ores are generally soft, mixed however, at times with pyrites, 
and will yield upon an average a dwt. per bushel. An engine 
shaft has been already commenced and sunk 60 feet with the 
intention of cutting the vein at 120 feet depth. When this 
:shall be down, which will be in the course of six weeks, we 
shall have a length of 100 feet vein to take out above us from 
the bottom of the shaft to the level above on the vein. This 
will be sufficient, should it prove as good below as in the level 
to furnish ores for a long time. All the ores as yet taken from 
the Jane vein have been above the 50 feet level. The expense 
of working Jane vein compared to the old one is small, and 
another important advantage it has is, that it can be worked by 
the diggers of the country, and the establishment is not liable 
to be stopped by a turn out of the English miners for higher 


23 


wages, as they will at times do, now by their being seduced 
away by other Companies: besides, in cases of necessity, 
negroes could be employed upon this vein to a good advantage. 
Upon the Jane vein from the extremity of the clavo has been 
driven a tunnel to the distance of one hundred and fifty feet or 
more, and we yesterday, cut what appears to be a new clavo, 
which has a very fine appearance. The vein is already from 
1 to 2 feet wide and as fine ore as any from the old clavo of the 
vein. This will be very encouraging, as should a good body of 
ores be found here, the vein is untouched, nothing having been 
taken out above , which leaves that part of the mine entirely 
fresh for operation. Some specimens of ores from this new 
place, I have enclosed in a box with others, from different parts 
of the mine for your inspection. 

Isabella Shaft —is another part of the mine as yet unmentioned y 
which has given some excellent ores at times, and from which I 
yet expect to see good returns. The vein is probably a part of 
the main or old vein but changed very materially as to the 
character of the vein and of the ores, it being some distance 
from any workings. The vein is open and easily worked, and 
should it prove good, it will be a valuable addition to the 
Jane vein. 

Should the Company be disposed to confine their works to 
those parts which would be soonest profitable. I would from 
present appearances advise, 

The suspension of the works upon the old vein. This I should 
consider as tending very materially towards a profitable prose¬ 
cution of the concern. 

The driving of the two tunnels upon the Isabella vein , as at 
present. 

The employment of the miners now at Capp’s in sinking the 
engine shaft, which they are at present doing, and in taking ores; 
from the old and new clavos on Jane Vein, 

The working a few hands at McClure’s, and the working of 
Maxwell’s mine. 

By doing so, I cannot but believe the affairs of the Company 
will soon be in a prosperous condition. 

Respectfully, your obt. Servant, 

(Signed.) EDWARD H. BISSELL. 


24 


To Anthony Dey , Secretary of the Mecklenburg Gold Mining 
Company at St. Catharine Mills. 

REPORT 

of Anthony Raw , Superintendent Aliner at present engaged by 
the Mecklenburg Gold Alining Company at Capp’s 
Mine , Charlotte , N. C. 

At the request of Mr. A. Dey, Secretary of the said Com¬ 
pany,—I do not fail to give the following Report. 

Since July 1st, 1831, I have been engaged by the said 
Company. Since 1811, untill now, I have occupied myself 
with nothing else (excepting 1815, when I was a soldier,) but 
with mining business. From 1811 to 1826, I was in my native 
country, viz. Germany, in the mines on the Rhine, of Saxony, 
of the Harz and of Westphalia. At the commencement of 
the year, 1828, I engaged myself to an English Mining Com¬ 
pany of London, in order to go to Mexico, as Superintendent 
Miner, where I was for 3 years with the company at Tlul- 
puxahua. 

All the above stated facts, I can, in case it should be desired, 
affirm by certificates. 

In the year 1829, I quitted Mexico, went to the coal region 
of Pottsville, in Pennsylvania, was there until June, 1831, and 
since that time, I have been here. 

The present nature of the chief vain of Capp's mine is this :— 

I need not mention that the vein below the clay ground has 
been very rich of good ore. But now it seems, as if the said 
clavo, in this country called pocket, failed entirely at a depth 
of 90 feet below the clay; in the northern part of the shaft 
where the steam engine works, as well as in the southern part. 
South it reaches a greater depth, under the old pump shaft, but 
even of this the end has been reached. The said shaft of the 
chief Capp’s vein, where a steam engine works, has been sunk 
20 feet deeper during my stay since October, 1832. The vein 
has been broken through once in the shaft, and once at a greater 
depth in the bottom of the shaft, 114 feet below the clay ground 
by means of a tunnel where the vein at the lowest place con¬ 
tained but 1 seam of ore, 3 inches thick, the vein is here 20 feet 
thick and consists of quartz or flint slate. At a greater depth 
of the chief vein there might be found perhaps another rich ore, 
clavo or pocket, but as it is uncertain, and as there appeared 
moreover in sinking the shaft, and likewise at the Charlotte 
mine a solid hard rock (“ Grawacke” in the German Miner’s, 


25 


language) to sink 1 foot of which would cost, besides all the 
other expenses, at least $20. 1 would not advise the Company, 

under the present circumstances, to make this experiment, as 
the ore contains, on average, not more than 20 grains per bushel. 
My proposal therefore is to cease for the present in working 
the main Capp’s vein, as well as to let the steam engine stand 
still. North of the above main shaft there is another vein 
known by the name of Anthony ; this is a very flat vein from 
5 to 6 feet thick, the ore of which 1 do not estimate richer than 
5 or 6 grains per bushel: the same vein has been richer at the 
surface than it is at the depth known at present: and for the vein 
just mentioned, I should likewise not advise to lay out any sum 
of money. But the vein lying towards east, called Jane vein, has 
been dug up since I was here in a depth of 50 feet below the clay 
ground, for the length of almost 300 feet. At this depth a clavo 
of ore has been found being from 6 inches to 5 feet thick, and is 
now at the present depth clearly to be seen for a length of 150 
to 160 feet: this vein was through the whole length of the 
tunnel richer below, at the bottom, than above. Moreover, a 
clavo has been discovered, within 2 days, in the same vein, 100 
feet distant from the former, the ore of which is to-day 2 feet 
thick, and I believe that this clavo will he likewise very good. 
For this vein a new shaft has been commenced which is by 
this time 47 1-2 feet deep: the steam engine has been brought 
hither from Rudisell’s Mine and placed upon this Shaft. The 
shaft cuts the vein at 120 feet, there remain therefore 72 1-2 yet 
to be sunk which may be performed in less than six weeks, ahd 
will cost, if the rock remains the same as it is now, not above 
5 to $600. It is beyond any doubt but this vein will give a 
great profit as soon as the steam engine shaft is accomplished. 
The ore of this vein I estimate at 2 dwt. per bushel. 

Concerning the Charlotte Mine,—I was there only 5 weeks, 
in the year 1831, in August and September. 1 don’t know how 
rich the ore was there. At present the whole mine is full of 
water, and all the upper works have sunk, which, I expect, will 
be the same case with the lowest (excepting the steam engine 
shaft). Of this Mine, I can therefore say nothing certain. 

At Rudisell’s Mine, I was at work almost from the beginning 
to the end, and I dare say that this mine is not worth to be 
ever re-opened. Here I remark—I believe it to be quite certain 
that a vein runs through south of Rudisell’s mine in the adjacent 
old field, which has never been examined by the Chevalier de 
Rivafinoli, it may be that the same is worthy of an experi¬ 
ment. 


4 


2(j 


Should the shaft of Charlotte Mine ever be sunk deeper, it 
never will make dry this mine without a tunnell to be dug 
from Charlotte Mine to Rudisell’s Mine. 

Maxwell's Mine .—My opinion of this mine is the following : 
I have inspected this Mine only once and believe that this mine 
will likewise prosper, if the Directors would make up their 
minds to let it be wrought upon. For, from 5 to 600 feet, over 
the vein, in the clay ground, there is every where good ore to be 
found, a sure sign that the vein below must be rich. Besides 
the beautiful situation which is here for mining operations, the 
hill, in which the vein arises, is at least from 90 to 100 feet 
elevated, so that the water wdiich is about the vein may very 
easily be led off by a tunnel of 100 feet long. Upon this vein 
three small shafts or pits have been driven down several years 
ago, the ore of the deepest whereof I have likewise seen, and 
think it to be very good. The vein is said to be 4 to 5 feet 
thick: here are therefore no expenses for steam engine to be 
paid for several years, in consequence of which this mine must 
pay already, in the 1st month after the works of it are com¬ 
menced, all expenses, and leave yet a surplus. 

We have opened, since a month, in the neighborhood and 
half mile south east of Capp’s Mine, a vein on the plantation of 
Mr. McClure, which in a depth of 35 feet is already dug up 
for the length of GO feet. The vein is 3 feet thick, and the ore 
towards the South is on average half foot thick. I do not say 
that this vein will be as good as Jane vein or Maxwell’s mine, 
but that it will be profitable is not to be doubted. 

In order to bring the concerns of this mining establishment 
in a short time to such a stand, that the stockholders of this 
company may ajso have profit of it, only the three following 
mines ought, after my opinion, for at the present time to be 
wrought upon, viz :— 

1. Jane vein, at Capp’s mine, 

2. Maxwell’s Mine, and 

3. McClure’s Mine. 

I hope the Directors of the Company will give credit to my 
Report, and the consequence will show that I have said the 
truth. (Signed) 

Yours respectfully, 

ANTHONY RAW. 

Cupp's Mine , June 26th, 1833. 


2? 


The following Questions are submitted to J. H. Bissell, Chief 
Manager of the concerns of “ The Mecklenburg Gold 
Mining Company” at Charlotte , in North Carolina. 

1. What is the power at present employed at St. Catharine’s 
Mills ? How much is driven by steam ? How much more can 
the present power by steam be increased, and at what expense ? 

2. How much is done by water ? How much more can the 
present power by water be increased, and at what comparative 
expense ? 

3. What is the relative advantage of steam and water, and 
how can they be most beneficially employed at the present time ? 
What is the difference in expense between reducing the ores by 
water power, or by steam power, and how in your opinion 
ought the same to be used to the best advantage of the com¬ 
pany ? 

4. What is your present supply of ores, and what prospect 
have you of a supply in future. 

5. What has been the general character of the ores fur¬ 
nished by the mines? What per bushel has been their yield ? 
What is the lowest yield per bushel that will justify running 
the mills in order to pay expenses. 

6. Under the existing power of reducing ores, suppose that 
the ores will yield only 50 cents per bushel—what would be 
the monthly profits of the concern to be divided among the 
stockholder’s, and what sum, supposing the ore would yield 1 
dwt. per bushel ? 

7. What plan of operation do you deem most advisable to 
pursue, and what arc your reasons therefor ? 


To the questions put to me as manager of the concerns of the 
Mecklenburg Gold Mining Company, I would respectfully an¬ 
swer in their order. 

To 1 & 2. That the milling power employed at St. Catha¬ 
rines’ mills is a steam-engine, rated at thirty horse power, which 
draws 12 arastres of 9 feet each in diameter, this being the lar¬ 
gest dimensions I believe the arastres are ever made of; six 
feet being more usual, while those of 9 feet are termed in Mexi¬ 
co “ of the first class.” The engine is capable of doing more 
work than it has yet done, and the excess of power might be 
employed in driving the arastres rather faster than they now go, 
and by the addition of a dry stamping mill, of heads enough to 
supply pounded ores, in lieu of being dependent, as now, upon 



28 


the water, and thus losing any peculiar advantage of steam- 
power. 

The water power at present employed in reducing ores at 
St. Catharine’s Mills is, First , Twelve stamp heads employed 
in preparing hard ores for the arastre mills ; Secondly , Two 
arastres called the old mill; Thirdly , A new and efficient mill 
of twelve heads for stamping in water to which the Tyrolean 
bowls are attached, and which have recently gone into action ; 
Fourthly , Two water wheels which are now employed in 
washing ground ores, but which may be made to drive 10 
stamp heads of 50 lbs. each or heavier. 

The Mills in actual operation, and without looking forward 
to any changes will reduce somewhat as follows : 

Bush. 

12 arrastres by steam, . 15 bush, each per day. . . 180 
2 “ “ water, 12 “ “ “ “ ... 24 

Wet stamping, and Tyrolean, (say).100 


304 

The amount of ores reduced at St Catharine’s Mills, may be 
augmented with no great expense, and in a short time to between 
four and five hundred bushels per day, and the water power 
unoccupied will then be so great and constant, as to admit of 
being used in new mills, to carry the consumption of ores up to 
one thousand or more bushels per day, if there should be occas¬ 
ion. Also, in possession of the company, are the Mallard 
Creek mills, which, when repaired, will be capable of reducing 
about 75 bushels per day, during nine or ten months of the 
year. There are at that establishment four arastres and dry 
stamps to supply. In reference to an increase of the consum¬ 
ing power at St. Catharine’s Mills, it is very material that the 
extensive and expensive appendages and accompaniments of a 
great milling establishment have been erected and arranged up¬ 
on a scale which will not need any increase, however exempli¬ 
fied, may be the mere milling part for reduction of ores. I re¬ 
fer to the substantial and comfortable dwelling houses which are 
sufficient for the accommodation of an hundred or more white 
persons and officers ; besides excellent houses for black hands, 
to the number of 70 or 80 more ; stables, store-houses, carpen¬ 
ter’s and blacksmith’s shop’s, an excellent smelting and assay- 
house, a new and first rate saw-mill, &c. &c. 

The outlay at St. Catharine’s, upon what may thus be termed 
the appendages ol the mills has been since the place first came 
into possession of Bissell & Barker, very great, as they believed 



29 


it justified by the'advantageous locality of the mill place, situa¬ 
ted as it is, without any water power within a great distance, 
able even to compete in the smallest degree, with its business 
of milling ores, and being in the best vicinity of mines known 
in the United States. Nor should it be omitted that the work 
done under the administration of M. de R. was of the best kind. 
Compared with this, any other concerns yet in this country, are 
so inconsiderable as to seem but the mere first beginning of 
an establishment, as you know from your own observation. 

3d.—As to the relative advantage and expense of steam and 
water power, I annex a statement of the engine’s daily ex¬ 
penses, which are and must be, in every place, very nearly 
the same. 

Estimate of cost of milling by steam :— 


2 Engineers, at $47 ac. 20. . . $2 25c. 

2 Firemen . . . 0 88 

1 Wood-wheeler . . . 0 37 

5 Millers . . . 2 88 

W ood . . . . .60 

Oil and candles, &c. . . . 0 75 

One head-washer . . . 1 12 

Six black washers . . . 2 25 

Blacksmith, mill wrights, superintendence, ) 
drag stones . . j 

Horse, cart, and man . .10 


Wear and tear of machinery, engine, bed 
stones, and tubs 


$20 50 

Now, by water power, I suppose the same quantity of ore 
might be milled for five dollars. There are, however, other ad¬ 
vantages in having a large water-milling concern above that of 
steam. In the -first place, experience will show, whatever may 
be the existing impression of those who are now in the business, 
that no one mine will, for more than a year or two, supply daily 
150 bushels of ore. I do not say such a thing cannot be, but it 
has not been here, or elsewhere, for a long time, and one ex¬ 
ception is not to be a rule. Now, if an engine be put to any 
given mine , generally, it must pump not only a supply of water 
for its own use, but for washing, a far greater quantity; and 
wells are wholly inadequate, as will be seen. If then the mine 
ceases to supply ores enough, ores from the vicinity must be 
transported, and there is the expense of transportation, and ex¬ 
pense of steam to work the ores. This is so important that I 



30 


consider a great milling concern, by water, -will command ores 
form a distance of ten miles, and work them as cheap as can be 
done, upon or near the spot of extraction Besides this, no 
mining concern can get on well without a saw-mill; and, as an 
instance, I think Mr. Smith, at the Orange Mine, told me his 
lumber bill had been, in somewhat more than a year, above 
$2,000. I know the Capp’s Company’s bill, yearly, was more 
than $1,000. Now the timber from a saw-mill, by water, costs 
very little, being sawed upon shares of one-half, and it is sent 
by return ore waggons. With these views I have regarded the 
St. Catharine establishment as of necessity to command the mines 
in a vicinity of nine or ten miles about: nor do I apprehend any 
rival establishment can compete to her disadvantage. Sooner 
or later, by working ores upon toll, or by lease or purchase of 
mines, upon their own terms, the ores will be milled from a long 
circle round. Probably the grand mistake made by M. de R., 
and the source of all his misfortunes here, was to expend so 
enormous a sum upon an engine, while there was water power 
so over-abundant for all purposes. As the engine is here, by 
using both powers, when there is need of it, certainly the ex¬ 
pense will be lessened, by average with the water power : nor 
need it be constantly worked. 

In reply to question fourth, I would say that a supply of about 
150 bushels per day may be reasonably expected from Capp’s, 
provided nothing occurs to intercept the work—such disarrange¬ 
ment of the engine is now less to be feared than before, or the 
want of miners who may perhaps leave the mine as has been 
the case recently to compel higher wages. This evil will lessen 
gradually as competition takes place by new comers. The in¬ 
convenience is now a serious one, and may defeat the best com¬ 
putations. It is not improbable much more may be afforded 
from Capp’s, but the safe way would be opening some other of 
the numerous mines nearer to the mills, to rely not wdiolly upon 
any one place. Should the Charlotte shaft be driven downward 
probably a supply of ore to amount of 4 or 500 bushels, might 
be had regularly from the two, worth an average of 80 cts; and 
at an expense of about $2000 per month. In case Davidson’s 
mine should be leased, the supply would be greater and the aver¬ 
age more, rather than less. My impression is, that the Charlotte 
mine, Davidson’s and Clapps’, would satisfy the expectations of 
all concerned. If Davidson’s cannot be had, other mines may 
be substituted—but new establishments, though small, cannot be 
formed additionally while the Company’s affairs are in their pre¬ 
sent fluctuating uncertainty. Tt i« not a month, or a year which 


31 


will carry the Company’s enterprizes to the point, they should 
go, but time, patience, and above all the power to withstand tem¬ 
porary embarrasments and losses, incident to all mining enter¬ 
prizes, should be possessed. This done gradually, the mines of 
the vicinity will fall into their possession, upon their own terms, 
and by a command of the circle of mines of 7 or 8 miles, suc¬ 
cess equal to the most sanguine hopes will be insured —For by 
dependence upon single mines, no very considerable quantities 
of ore can be had a long time. Notwithstanding we hear of 
inexhaustable veins and hundreds of thousands of bushels of 
ore, experience, as before observed, will show no single vein 
capable of such large drafts upon it. Experience will also 
show the folly of such extravagant calculations upon the value 
of ores as are current. And it is experience in those interested 
and in those employed, and the information of the population 
about a concern to mining views, which are preliminary steps of 
surely continued success. No company will be steadily pro- 
perous by accident—They must pay one or all the price of 
knowledge more or less high, and I should lament to see others 
take at a low price what the present Company have paid dearly 
for. 

As answer to questions five and six, I refer to a statement in 
your possession, which I do not join as the answers have been so 
much extended. 

The answer to question seven, would depend entirely upon the 
looting more or less extensive, it will be determined to put the 
Company’s affairs—and it is answered in a general manner 
above, and having explained so fully my views to you in a more 
minute and detailed manner than would now seem to be required, 
I refer to former communications to supply any present deficiency. 

Very respectfully your obt. servant. 

T. H. BISSELL. 


St. Catharine Mills , July, 1833. 




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